When Richlands linebacker Devon Johnson surprisingly made a verbal commitment to Marshall in late January, it came before other offers had a chance to come in. Johnson had been receiving heavy interest from schools like UVa, Virginia Tech and others, and so it was just generally assumed that he would be waiting things out for a while.

Johnson knows he probably surprised a lot of folks with his decision to commit to the Herd but he made the choice that he felt was best for himself.

The 6-foot-2, 209-pound prospect, who VirginiaPreps.com has ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the state among 2012 prospects, is a West Virginia native and felt comfortable with Marshall.